Category: Legislation
Youngkin vetos Virginia two-person freight crew bill
As the clock was running out for him to act Friday night, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin decided he was against public safety, common sense and protecting Virginia railroad workers’ jobs and pensions. He vetoed a bill backed by our union that required a minimum two-person crew on Virginia’s freight trains.
Call for Support: Kentucky Two-Person Crew Bill Gets Momentum
SMART-TD Kentucky State Legislative Board | CSX & Norfolk Southern CALL TO ACTION: SMART-TD's mission to maintain safe rail operations goes on in Kentucky. Support is needed for two-person crew legislation in the state!
Virginia 2PC bill heading to governor
Parliamentary procedures between the two chambers of the Virginia Legislature concluded Tuesday, and a two-person crew bill now awaits the governor’s signature. “It was a big day and a big win in our state for rail safety for the public and the men and women who work on the r [...]
Two-person crew effort advances in Virginia
Rail safety legislation championed by the SMART Transportation Division’s Virginia State Legislative Board is on the cusp of landing on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk. The Virginia House on Wednesday followed the lead of the state’s Senate earlier passage of the two-person crew b [...]
Two-person crew progress in Nebraska and New Mexico
In 2023, SMART-TD’s state legislative boards and our National Legislative Department made tremendous progress making two-person crews the law of the land in multiple states across the country. Less than a month into 2024, Nebraska and New Mexico are carrying this momentum int [...]
Our focus is votes, not quotes!
Any of us who has had a conversation in a crew room, locker room or a locomotive about politics knows that there is a 50% chance that things could get awkward in a way that’ll take more than a few minutes to clear the air. When in a 10-square-foot metal box with another alpha [...]
Bills’ advancement in Michigan a step forward for worker assault prevention
The union’s renewed intensity on protecting our Amtrak, bus and transit members from assaults by passengers resulted in a late-night victory for our cause Nov. 8 in Michigan. State Legislative Director Donald Roach proudly reported that HB 4917 and HB 4918, both to enhance pr [...]
Rail labor collectively urges representatives to oppose House THUD bill
The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, of which the SMART Transportation and Mechanical Divisions are members, issued the following letter today, Oct. 31, on the Transportation Housing and Urban Development bill under consideration in the U.S. House. Dear Repres [...]